Introduction and General Description
The Feeding Commodities Inventory system is a computer package designed to keep
track of feed stocks on hand (both weight and value) in a Feedlot.
The system will also keep track of quantities and values of feed deposited into
pens in the feedlot, thus enabling accurate costings to be kept with regard to
the feeding of stock.
A link exists between this package and the Cattle Fattening Records
package. Information automatically fed from the Commodities system will allow
accurate costings to be kept with regard to what it is actually costing to feed
individual “lots” of cattle. These costs are allocated to the cattle daily by
automatically averaging them over the total number of cattle in each Pen.
The Commodities system has a monthly cycle built into it. This allows the user
to print off a report showing, for the month, Opening stocks, Purchases, Feed
consumed, and a Closing stock figures for each commodity. When any finalising
adjustments have been made, the month is closed off.
A file of Supplier Contracts is also be maintained by the
computer. This allows the recording of the basic supplier details, and the
commodity, weights and costs contracted for delivery. As commodity is delivered
to the feedlot, the computer will automatically keep track of the volumes
delivered against each contract.
This system can only be used successfully if all commodity movements are
weighed:
- By the truck load when arriving at the feedlot;
- Individual commodities must be weighed as feeding trucks are loaded for
cattle feeding.
Commodities File.
Up to 99 different commodities can be recorded in the Commodities Master file. This
file will be automatically updated (weight on hand and value) as commodity is
delivered, or taken from stock for the feeding of cattle. An "Adjustment"
facility also exists to allow manual modification of stocks on hand when a
stock take has been done.
When commodity is delivered to the feedlot, its value as well as its weight is
entered into the computer. This allows the system to automatically keep track of
the value of the commodity on hand.
Ration Descriptions.
Ration descriptions are stored in the computer for reference purposes. Each
ration is given a name, and is described by percentages of each commodity used
to make up the ration. Various other details about the Ration are also stored,
such as Custom Feeding charge out value etc.
A report can be generated by the computer that will show Feed truck Load
Component variances when compared to the standard ration mix. The Load Variance
report can be checked to ensure that rations are being mixed correctly by the
relevant staff.
Pen descriptions.
A file is built into the system that stores a few basic details about each pen
of cattle in the feedlot. For each pen, the file stores the number of cattle and
their current ration type. The system will calculate and print daily feeding
requirements for each pen, using feeding order parameter tables set up by the
user. These reports are in both management format and feeding “card” format.
Each card shows a list of commodities and weights that are to be loaded into a
feeding truck, and the weight of feed that are to be given to a list of pens.
When data that is generated from the feed trucks is being entered into the
computer, it will check that the ration type deposited into cattle pens, and the
number of head fed, matches with the data held in the Pen Description file. In
other words a "check" is set up for entering data.
Data Collection.
A flow of information must exist between feedlot operations staff and office
staff to record the loading and feeding out of feed commodities. These forms
need to basically match computer data entry screens to assist clerical staff
operating the computer system. The “feed cards” generated above can be used for
this process.
Data can also be generated for a Digi-Star Datakey
device or Digi-Star DataLink System for passing to the Feed Truck. The system also has the capability of
processing the feeding data returned from the truck.
Interface with Cattle Fattening Records system.
The Cattle Fattening Records software allows you to record Pen numbers
against individual cattle.
(This can be done very quickly using a "Batch Update". For example, you could
instruct the computer to allocate a given Pen number to a uniquely identifiable
mob of cattle by Lot Number perhaps.)
When "feed out" data is entered into the Feed Commodities Inventory system,
information is supplied identifying how much feed has been deposited into
individual pens, and what Ration Type was used. A procedure exists within the
software to automatically update individual cattle records "en masse".
This process is preferably run daily. This means that the user of the system can
get reasonably accurate information out of the computer to show how much cattle
are eating, what it is costing, and hence a Gross Margin on the cost of
processing cattle through the Feedlot.
(The words "reasonable accurate" are used above because there is bound to be
some wastage, and some cattle in a pen may eat more than others).
Computer Reports.
There are various reports that are available to the user of this system, that
have been designed to provide useful information on a daily basis, or over a
given period.
A brief summary of some of the reports available follows.
Bunks History by Pen Report. This report will list data for the last 5 days for all the feedlot pens. It is
useful to carry with you when checking the bunks each morning. It shows, for
each pen and each of the last five days, the following pieces of information:
Ration
Head
Total Kgs Fed
Kgs per head allocated
Kgs per head actually fed
Bunk code
When the report is requested, the system will prompt for the "as at" date. This
defaults to today's date.
Transaction
Audit report.
Lists all transactions entered into the computer for a given period. This may be
for all commodities, for one particular commodity only, or for a given delivery
Contract.
Load Variance report.
Shows the commodity components by weight of each truck load of feed, and how the
weights compare with the Standard Ration description. Identifies incorrect
mixing of rations.
Rations Fed Out.
List the Ration type and weight of feed deposited by pen for a given day.
Monthly Stock report. This report will show the following figures by both weight and value for each
commodity used in the feedlot for the current month:
Opening Balance;
Purchases;
Adjustments;
Totals fed out;
Closing Balance.
14 Day Feed Report. This report will show the average Kgs. Feed/Head consumed in each Pen over the
last fourteen days. This enables a picture to be built up showing if Feed
Consumption is increasing or decreasing for each Pen.
Back to Cattle Fattening Records page.
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